What an I doing wrong with my FEL?

_RaT_ · Jun 26, 2005

Lots of good comments, you do need to learn to work the pedal thats for sure, but what Egon says caught my eye With a pile like that that angle in with only part of the bucket in use and break out the dirt. This is very true especially the "break out the dirt part". You do have to break out the dirt, that is, detach the cohesiveness it has to the rest of the pile. Even industrial loaders have trouble simply lifting a load that is not first broken from the pile. Once you master the HST pedal and learn to immediately back off on it as the engine loads, you will be quite happy with its performance, even with the relatively low HP the L3130 has for the equipment it carries. I often let the momentum of the tractor get into a pile of material, and almost at the same time am quickly backing off on the HST all the while curling and then extending and then curling once more the loader bucket. I never leave the pile without the bucket heaped and I need only one shot at it to make this happen. After many thousands of yards of material moved, you get it down. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

L3010Ken · Jun 26, 2005

Your tractor should handle this task easily once you get the hang of it. I have a GST and while I had problems with killing the motor when first trying to coordinate driving, bucket lift and curl, shifting, throttle, etc. . . .after a while it became natural and I could load a 5 yard dump truck in less than 15 minutes with sod laden dirt like you have shown.

After about the 40th dump truck load, I had it down (^8

txdon · Jun 26, 2005

What are you doing wrong?

Whenever that happens to me I am in M range.

Shift to L, increase the gas, decrease the pressure on the HST pedal. When your tires start spinning adjust your bucket for a smaller bite by lifting it up or curling it up to level or a bit higher.

smittyd3 · Jun 26, 2005

Be glad you have the LA723. It did me good to read your post.
I have a L3130 GST with the LA513 and I have to keep the momentum up as the some of the other posts have indicated.

I had to get used to the fact that I only have about 30 hp to play with.

Getting used to rollback breakout took a little time.

Part of my problem is I've operated loaders at work for since 1974 and when you get used to a Cat 980B, F or G it takes a while to get used to breaking 2" diameter tree roots with the corner of the bucket toothbar when it seems like you can do it quicker with a mattock or axe.

frank_f15 · Jun 26, 2005

Very good explaination, saved me a lot of typing. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Really all he needs is a lottle more seat time, and he will learn you can't lift from the bottom.

Egon · Jun 26, 2005

( ) seems like you can do it quicker with a mattock or axe.

That may just be the quickest way. Builds character too! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

penokee · Jun 27, 2005

I appreciate all the replies. My former tractor was an AC WD without live hydraulics. I had to drive into the pile, put in the clutch, shift into nuetral so the FEL would operate, lift the load, then go through the shifting thing again to back out, etc.

My left leg was just getting too worn out after a few hours, so that was one of the reasons I convinced mom that I needed an automatic trannie and live hydraulics. Now I have to learn how to use it. She still thinks we should have left the money in the bank so the kids(in their 40,s doing well) would have a little nest egg. Love her dearly - I guess that's how mothers/grandmothers are supposed to be.

Thanks again for the advice - never too old to learn /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
penokee /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Nik · Jun 27, 2005

Two other suggestions would be the use of a toolbar on the bucket to help loosen the soil and wait until after a good rain. Compacted soil may soften up and be easier to dig after a good soaking. I had a large dirt pile to move with my B2410. Waited for a good rain and then in next day or so I was able to easily dig into this compacted weed overgrown pile with ease. This was done without a toothbar.

Lkraus · Jun 28, 2005

I found that the best way to think about an HST is that the "Go" pedal is actually an infinitely variable gear changer. When you put the pedal down you go faster because you are using a higher "gear ratio", not because the engine is running faster. Ease up when the load increases and you are effectively using a lower gear, for more torque. It doesn't seem natural to lift your foot when you are about to stall, but it works.